"An Indiana Winter"

Hello!
Yes, it's been awhile since my  last post. But for a very good reason, we moved from NC to Indiana! As you can imagine, I've been busy with packing and unpacking. We moved to be near my husband's family and my 5yr. old  daughter has been having a blast enjoying the abundant snow. We are adjusting to the climate here and the cultural differences that those of the south. And can I say, "Go Colts!". Okay, I know they lost.

Finally, I say with a sign of relief, I'm getting back to painting again. With a change of scenery, I felt inclined to focus on rural Indiana. Looking out of a second floor window where I paint gave me an interesting perspective. I normally don't paint landscapes, but challenged myself to creating an abstract landscape from the view of my window.

Naturally, the colors this afternoon muted with the overcast sky, yet the terrain is interesting to me. I look out and see (no, not dead people), but rather lines and angles across the land. Like when you are in an airplane and looking down below (if you're not looking at an engine) and seeing patchwork patterns. The details of trees, hills, creeks, rivers, homes, etc., are abstracted and what's left is patchwork of colors. That's what I see here in the snow and cornfields in the dead of winter. It's a different kind of beauty. It's quiet and muted looking as if the land were saying,...it's time to slow down and rest. Perhaps, I'll do this particular scene each season to investigate the changes in textures, colors, and lines. I hope you're interested in following me on this journey. I'm also including a few photos of rural Indiana.

Here's the study I did today. Please feel free to leave comments. Thank you, Allison

"An Indiana Winter"

Ongoing Seasonal Study

Canvas Paper
Oil

Closeup

My husband took this photo about 4 a.m of the moon was shining so brightly across the farm.

Family time spent sledding.

My 5yr. old Sarah having the time of her life!

The rest of the Uncles/Aunts and cousins having a great time together.

"The Barn Window" - Finished!

"The Barn Window"

28" x 22"

Oil
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Bazemore

Since the early 2000’s, most of my work has involved the creation of conceptually based abstract paintings demonstrating the strong impact of color and movement, however recently I have been painting common themes of realism. In my most recent painting, “The Barn Window”, I deconstruct the American Midwestern late 1800’s red barn down to a single weathered window. This darkened glass window with little reflection tries to show off the agricultural life it was so once proud to reflect. Not only does the window reflect the years of hard farm life, Midwest winters, but with time the inevitable; abandonment. In the painting, textured layers of red and white paint peel away to reveal a rawness to the wood that has become covered in moss and takes on a new life of it’s own. In the top panes, you can see the grain silo that is presently still in use nearby.

As with most Americans, there is a underlying sadness as we see the days of family farms sold for various reasons due to outstanding loans, housing developments or for another unnecessary strip mall. In fact, the red barn which is part of a family farm in Indiana has been sold and has recently been torn down due to it’s condition. All that is left is a photograph taken by a young woman named Tami Reece, whom at the young age of 33, passed away from cancer. I desire to honor Tami and her photograph with a painting titled, “The Barn Window”.